Titanfall Black Market Won't Become Cash Shop

Titanfall will be adding a Black Market in a future update that lets players buy in-game items. It's not as evil as you think.

"The Frontier may be rich in resources, but it’s also rich with conflict," Respawn said on the Titanfall website. "As a Pilot, you want to be prepared for anything, and sometimes, standard issue just isn’t enough to get the job done. Sometimes, you need to look elsewhere for an edge. Welcome to the seedy underbelly of the Frontier, Pilot – The Black Market."

OH GOD THEY'RE SELLING UPGRADES, AREN'T THEY? PAY-TO WIN! PAY-TO-WIN!

If that was your reaction, I don't blame you. Fellow EA shooter Battlefield 4 allows players to spend money on weapon upgrades, after all. The company's shown a love for microtransactions in all forms, in fact. It's not hard to imagine them selling batches of Titanfall unlockables for a few bucks.

However, Titanfall isn't going that route. Instead, the Black Market is limited to Titan Insignias and Burn Cards. The Insignias are merely decorations for your mechs. The Burn Cards do have some limited effect on gameplay but you're only able to buy randomized booster packs, instead of specific cards. In other words, you can't just stock up on a specific type of powerful card.

Furthermore, you're not allowed to spend real money at Titanfall's Black Market. Instead, you have to spend a new in-game currency called Credits. Credits can be earned in the following ways:

Match Victory

Match Completion

First Victory of the Day

Completing Daily Challenges

Selling Burn Cards

At level 50, a percentage of the XP you earn will be converted into Credits

Respawn Entertainment realizes that you're still stink-eyeing the Black Market. The rise of microtransactions and freemium games makes it easy to be cynical. Designer David Shaver assures players that the game will never become a cash shop.

"With the introduction of an in-game currency, some may worry that the next step is that we will let players spend real-world money to get an edge in the game. We have stated several times that Titanfall will not have micro-transactions. Fear not, for we plan to keep that promise - NO MICROTRANSACTIONS! The only way to get Credits is by playing the game!"

That's not to say Titanfall doesn't have premium add-ons, though. The game's map packs, such as the upcoming Frontier's Edge, cost $10 apiece.